Tenant looking for another place without telling landlord.

[Carlos Lez]

Posting this to help an elderly landlord: 

A rental company just called her for a reference check (saying this tenant wants to move into their apt. in the last week of March) on one of her current tenants whose current lease in San Jose, CA ends in August. The said tenant never notified the landlord of their intent to break her lease and the tenant is following up with this email "I am currently applying for a lease and they have informed me that they are awaiting your response to verify my information. So if you could get back to them at your earliest convenience I would greatly appreciate it."  

I am helping the landlord respond to this and seeking your input on how to respond to/handle this tenant and what to tell the rental company that is requesting the reference check. Needless to say, this is a shock for this landlord and appalled at this. 

[Austin F.]

The why doesn't really matter. It's also none of your business (although I too would wonder if it was the condition of my property). Provide a good reference if they deserve one, and move past it as it doesn't sound like the tenant is hostile at all.

Notify them of the procedures and penalties of breaking their lease, and start looking for a new well qualified tenant.

Good time to do any improvements needed, or bump up to market rents.